In Alaska, more than 63,000 people live in places only accessible by air or water.

“There are basically two major highways, and if you don’t live near one of those, you’re off the transportation grid and don’t have access to the things we take for granted,” said Scotty Goldman, director of global missions for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions.

But Jae McKee, director of missions and church planting for Alaska Baptists, had an idea — to get Starlink kits that could provide satellite internet access in some of these remote areas. Funds from the Myers-Mallory State Missions Offering have helped to purchase these kits for three villages so far.

“To be able to stream services into other native villages may turn out to be truly monumental for indigenous native ministry and church planting,” he said, noting that they also plan to use Starlink to disciple and train church planters in those villages.

One community already benefiting is rural Togiak. In May, a 9-member team from Chugach Baptist Association in Anchorage traveled to Togiak to install a Starlink device and spend several days reaching out to the community through VBS. Myers-Mallory gifts provided for the team’s airfare and other expenses.

“We are praying this effort will serve as a model for other associations to follow,” said Jae.